The present state of England. Part III. and Part IV. containing I. an account of the riches, strength, magnificence, natural production, manufactures of this island, with an exact catalogue of the nobility, and their seats, &c., II. the trade and commerce within it self, and with all countries traded to by the English, as at this day established, and all other matters relating to inland and marine affairs : supplying what is omitted in the two former parts ...

That an Excise should be laid upon Corn also is not unreasonable not only for this but for other Reasons.

The way of the present Militia or train-Bands in a Gentle Tax upon the Country, because it is only a few Days Labour in the Year, of a few in respect of the whole, using their own Goods, that is, their own Armes. Now if there be 300,0000. of Males in England there be above 200,000. of them who are between the Age of sixteen and thirty unmarryed Persons, and who live by their Labour and Service; for of so many the present Militia consists, and if 150,000. of these were Armed and trained as Foot, and 50000 as Horse, the said Force at Land together with 30,000. men at Sea, would by Gods ordinary Blessing, defend the Na∣tion being an Island against any force in view; but the charge of Arming, disci∣plining and rendevouzing all their men twice or thrice a Year would be a very Gentle Tax levied by the People themselves and paid to themselves. Moreover if out of the said number ⅓ part were selected of such as are more then ordinary fit for War, and exercised and rendevouzed fourteen or fif∣teen

times per Annum, the charge thereof being but a fortnights pay in the Year, would be also a very Gentle Tax. Lastly if out of this last mentioned number ¼ again should be selected, making 16,000. Foot, and 6000 Horse to be Exercised and rendevouzed forty Days in the Year, I say that the charge of all these three Militia's, allowing the latter six Weaks pay per Annum, would not cost per Annum above 120,000. pounds which I take to be so easie a burthen for so great a Benefit.

Forasmuch as the present Navy of Eng∣land requires 36,000. men to man it, and for that the English Trade of Shipping re∣quires about 48,000. men to manage it, it follows that there ought to be about 48,000. competently qualifyed for these Ser∣vices; for want whereof, we see it is a long while before a Royal Navy can be made, which till it be, is of no Effectual use but lies at charge. And we see likewise upon their occasions that Merchants are put to great straights, and inconveniencies, and do pay excise-rates for the carrying on their Trade. Now if 24,000. able Bodyed Trades∣men whereby 6000 per Annum brought up and fitted for Sea-service, and for their incou∣ragement allowed twenty Shillings per Annum for every Year they had been at Sea, even

when they stay at home, not exceeding six pound for those who have served six years or upwards; it follows that about 72000. pound at the medium of three pound per man would so satiate the whole number; and so forasmuch as half the Sea-men which manage the Merchants Trade are supposed to be always in Harbour, and are about 40000 together with the said half, the Auxi∣liaries last mentioned, would upon Emer∣gencies man out the whole Royal Navy, leaving to the Merchant 12000 of the able Auxiliaries to perform their business in Harbour, till others come home from the Sea; I say that more then this Summ 72000 pounds per Annum is Fruitlesly spent & over-paid by the Merchants whensoever a great Fleet is to be fitted out. Now these whom I call Auxiliary Seamen are such as have another Trade besides wherewith to maintain themselves when they are not imployed at Sea; and the charge of main∣taining themselves the 72000 pounds per Annum I take to be little or nothing for the Reasons above-mentioned, and conse∣quently an easie Tax to the people because levied by and paid to themselves. As we pro∣pounded, that Ireland, should be Taxed with Flax, and England by Linnen and other Manufactures of the same; so I con∣ceive

that Scotland might be Taxed as much to be paid in Herrings, as Ireland in Flax. Now these three Taxes of Flax, Linnen and Herrings, and the maintenance of the Triple Militia, and of the Auxiliary Seamen above-mentioned, do all five of them together a∣mount to 1,000,000. pounds of money, the raising whereof is not a Million spent but gain'd to the Common-Wealth, unless it can be made appear that by Reason of all or any of them the Exportations of Wollen Manufactures, Lead and Tin, are lessened, or of such Commodities as our own East and West India Trade do pro∣duce; for as much as I conceive that the Exportation of these last mentioned Com∣modities is the Touch-stone, whereby the Wealth of England is Tried, and the Pulse whereby the Health of the Kingdom may be discerned.